Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Maryland lists none of its own
HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Cobalt back, lit-up bars, heavy bill; the one that dumps the spool. More on the blue marlin page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for blue marlin in Maryland?
99" LJFL min. Measured as lower-jaw fork length: tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
How many blue marlin can you keep in Maryland?
No federal bag limit; annual US 250-marlin landings cap (blue + white combined).
When is blue marlin season in Maryland?
Year-round.
What is the Maryland record blue marlin?
1,135 lb, 70 miles offshore near Washington Canyon (2021).
How current is this Maryland blue marlin rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a blue marlin in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app